By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The executive Mayor of Maluti – a – Phofung (MAP) local municipality Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia, welcomed over 100 students who were selected to form part of the Mayoral Internship Programme aimed to offer the youth skills and experience.
The induction and signing of contracts formed part of the welcoming programme which was attended by the Furniture World Private College. In welcoming the students, the Executive Mayor said that the internship would provide some relief to over 100 families who will now go to bed having eaten something due to the stipends that this group of young people will be given.
This is what some of the recipients of this internship programme had to say in their interviews with this publication; “To say I’m happy is an understatement, I am ecstatic and very grateful for this opportunity. I studied travel and tourism in college, and I really haven’t had an opportunity to explore in the field, so I find this opportunity very important for me as I will learn more about what I studied,” Portia Hika from Kestell with a Diploma in Tourism said.
Thabang Selepe from Tshiame has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning and he said that he is very happy for being selected for the mayoral internship programme. “It is a great way to kick start my career as it aims to give me exposure to the work environment as a recent graduate, particularly in the town planning field. Furthermore, it is an experience I also require for achieving full professional status within my field. So, it really is an honour,” Selepe said.
Executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia at the mayoral internship programme induction and signing of contracts events.
“Our partnership with Furniture World in this internship will also help eradicate the high unemployment rate that is mainly experienced by our youth,” Lakaje-Mosia said when addressing those in attendance at this event.
For his part, Lebaleng Selloane from Furniture World, said that they have been working with the Municipality since 2017 and this time the duration of the internships ranges from 12 to 24 months.
“The duration will depend on the field the students are in, and we want to encourage all of them to work hard, respect their work and not disappoint us throughout the duration of this internship. We wish them the best of luck,” Selloane said.
The fields of internships vary from Engineering, Agriculture, Finance and many more. The students will start working as soon as the municipality places them in their relevant departments.
